The Student Support Specialist (SSS) is responsible for providing direct floor support to students and staff, supporting team members in solving problems and empowering staff to encourage independence, and supporting the administrative team with coverage, arrival and departure, field trips, and other tasks as assigned.

Duties and Responsibilities
Provide Direct Support to Students and Staff

• Respond to crisis situations that exceed classroom capacity to manage (e.g., additional staff are needed for de-escalation, toileting needs, health-related needs, etc.)
• Provide clarity and efficient decision making in times of crisis
• Utilize de-escalation strategies, along with personal safety and physical management techniques learned in PCM training in order to ensure the safety of students and staff
• Model student-specific intervention strategies in-the-moment
• Encourage and support staff to remain positive and creatively problem solve challenging situations
• Provide instructional and therapeutic services to students as needed, including but not limited to: running class sessions, supporting in group settings, implementing behavior plans, sensory diets, and communication systems, and assisting with activities of daily living (e.g., toileting, grooming, etc.)
• Encourage staff to find opportunities to promote student independence throughout the day and assist with modeling strategies, creating visuals, and/or collaborating on opportunities as appropriate
• Complete professional documentation and encourage others to complete documentation, including but not limited to: daily communication logs, data collection of students’ performance on IEP goals, behavior data, accident forms, PCM forms

Provide Administrative Support

• Review classroom staffing needs each morning and assign coverage as needed based on staff and student absences or vacancies
• Facilitate arrival and departure of students by ensuring efficient processes for front and back bus lines
• Address bus drivers’, aides’, and staff concerns and feedback regarding transportation, sharing that information with Program Coordinator(s) and Director(s) when follow up with districts or families is necessary
• Assist in the organization of Community Based Instruction and Field Trips, including but not limited to: operating within a given budget, communicating with families, maintaining a log of locations, costs, etc.
• Participate in training and assimilation of new program assistants as assigned
• Attend and participate in building-wide meetings, program-specific meetings, department meetings, classroom meetings, and professional development opportunities
• Complete classroom- or program-specific tasks as assigned

Other Responsibilities

• Comply with all organization-wide and program-specific polices

The responsibilities listed above are representative and not all inclusive. Other duties may be assigned by supervisors.
Knowledge and Skills

• Embody Giant Steps’ values of excellence, accountability, integrity, collaboration, innovation and passion
• Strong clinical skills – able to support students with a variety of needs
• Able to multi-task and prioritize tasks
• Strong communication skills – able to communicate information, verbally and in writing, to others in a direct, yet sensitive manner
• Good judgment – able to give objective feedback to administrative team to help assess the needs of students and staff
• Proven interpersonal skills – able to maintain rapport with staff members in all positions
• Naturally enjoys serving others – thrives on supporting others behind the scenes, without much recognition, finds fulfillment in knowing that they were helpful to others
• Solution-oriented and able to resolve interpersonal conflicts
• Professional and mature – able to maintain confidential information and give constructive feedback to all staff with whom he/she interacts
• Able to help manage staff anxiety and maintain a positive school culture
• Flexible and able to adapt to change quickly

Minimum Job Requirements

• A current, valid Illinois State Board of Education Paraprofessional or Substitute Teaching Licensure on file with DuPage County Regional Office of Education
• Bachelor’s degree or 2 years of experience working at Giant Steps preferred

Classification
The Student Support Specialist is a non-exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Salary
Salary is commensurate with level of education and experience.

Calendar
The Student Support Specialist follows the Day School Staff calendar.

Conditions of Employment

• Pre-employment physical, drug screening, and criminal background check
• Possesses appropriate professional credentials
• Passing PCM training is a requirement of this position. Participation in PCM training and adherence to the Professional Crisis Management Association’s guidelines require at least average physical fitness. Any physical limitations or conditions that may impact one’s ability to participate in PCM training or PCM must be made known to Giant Steps upon application, as performance of various physical tasks is a bona fide occupational requirement of this position.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Work is typically performed indoors within the school facility
• Moderate physical movement is required for the job
• Moderate exposure to physical risk is anticipated
• The noise level in this work environment varies from quiet to very loud.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort (continued)

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is continually required to stand, walk, sit, run, squat, kneel, crawl, climb, balance, crouch, talk, hear, smell, and see. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50+ pounds.

Annual Performance Review

• An annual performance review will be conducted each spring by the Program Coordinator.
• The Student Support Specialist will complete a self-assessment of his/her performance and submit the self-assessment to the Program Coordinator two weeks prior to his/her annual review each spring.

Compensation Package
Giant Steps Illinois, Inc. provides a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage to all full time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours/week.

Affirmative Action Plan/Equal Employment Opportunity (AAP/EEO)
Giant Steps adheres to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis including: veteran status, disability, religion, race, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or FMLA related medical condition, height, weight, familial status, marital status and genetic information.

Disclaimer
This disclaimer is to acknowledge that it is highly probable that as an employee of Giant Steps Illinois, Inc., you are at risk of personal injury. Injuries may include, but are not limited to hitting, biting, kicking, scratching, and having hair pulled. The extent of some injuries may result in a break in the skin. All injuries must be documented according to the policies and procedures outlined in the Employee Handbook. Often, individuals are placed in this setting as a result of physical aggression or acting out behaviors that may prohibit them from participating in other environments. Our setting allows for these atypical behaviors. All employees are required to show proof of a Hepatitis B vaccination upon hire.

*Giant Steps Illinois, Inc. has the ability to review and change the job description when necessary.